USF’s ‘Bernie’ takes on Jammer at faculty/student benefit basketball game
University of St. Francis mascot "Bernie," the Saint Bernard will shoot hoops against Jammer, mascot of the Joliet JackHammers, during a faculty vs. student game on Monday, March 27 that will support a mission trip to Bolivia in June.
The faculty/staff won last year’s game 70-69; previous year was a win by USF students. The game is at 7 p.m. in the university’s Recreation Center. Admission is $4 and $2 for children aged 12 and under and senior citizens.
USF will send 11 students to Sucre, Bolivia to minister at seven sites, including an orphanage, a hospital, a home for boys and a home for mentally challenged persons. "We are going to share skills and knowledge in aid of the poor and to deepen our own spirituality by sharing in service, prayer and reflection. We hope to learn from the poor and to understand the causes of injustice and to find ways to communicate these insights," said Sister Sharon Frederick, OSF, director of university ministry at USF.
USF students began going to Sucre, Bolivia missions about 10 years ago to work with schools, orphanages and other community projects. Proceeds from the basketball game will help fund the trip as well as school, medical and other supplies that students take to give to organizations in Sucre. The Catholic Diocese of Joliet organizes the June 8-22 trip. For more information about the mission project or to make a donation, contact Frederick at (815) 740-3050.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet, is a Catholic, Franciscan institution that serves more than 4,100 students nationwide.